Statistics: Suffolk County recorded increase in stabbings in the last few months

The number of stabbings in Suffolk County has increased slightly in the last few months, police statistics show.

While stabbings have seen an uptick since May, including several stabbing incidents involving youth in public places, the overall number in the county is slightly down.

From January through July, there were 67 stabbings recorded by Suffolk police. During that same time period last year, there were 71.

Beginning in May, the number of stabbings has increased, with 12 last May and 13 this May, according to department statistics.

In June, there were 17 stabbings, up from the 11 that occurred in June 2024.

And in July, there were also 17 stabbings, an increase from the 12 stabbings recorded last July.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said in an interview that the data doesn’t show any large increases.

"I don’t see a massive change either one way or another," Tierney said. "We’re down overall by four. Some months we’re going to be a little down, some months a little up. I don’t think there's anything alarming in that trend. But of course we want to get the numbers as close to zero as possible."

Tierney said unlike the county’s 44% uptick in shootings, which police have attributed to youth gang violence, the reasons for stabbings are more varied.

"Stabbings are much more diverse," Tierney said. "A lot of homeless people stabbing each other, domestic stabbings, a lot of youth stabbings. It’s not as predictable and much more diverse than shootings typically."

A police department spokesperson said officials were unavailable Wednesday to speak about the stabbing data. 

In Nassau, by comparison, the police department has recorded 24 stabbings as of Aug 4, according to police department statistics. The department recorded 55 stabbings in all of last year, putting it on pace to record fewer this year, the statistics show. 

The slight uptick in stabbings in Suffolk comes as the department has seen an overall decrease in crime. According to crime statistics posted on the department's website, the county of more than 1.5 million people is poised to record fewer crimes this year than last.

In 2024, the department recorded 16,707 total crimes, 15,460 property crimes and 1,247 violent crimes. So far this year, the department has recorded 7,043 total crimes, putting it on track to record fewer than last year. 

Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), chair of the Suffolk Legislature’s public safety committee, said he was unaware of the recent uptick in stabbings.

"Despite these recent tragedies, we are one of the safest counties in the state and the country, considering our population size," Flotteron said, adding that he plans to query police about the issue at their next public safety committee meeting.

In May, a 16-year-old boy was stabbed multiple times in the back by a group of teens at Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, police have said. Police have not announced any arrests nor provided a potential motive. 

On July 27, a man in his 30s was stabbed in the abdomen during an altercation at El Charro restaurant on Horseblock Road in Farmingville. The man’s brother was also injured during the altercation with a group of men. Police have not announced any arrests.

The stabbings have continued into August. Last Saturday, Alexander Murphy, 18, of Sayville, was charged with assault for stabbing a 17-year-old from Selden in the back on the beach at Smith Point County Park on Fire Island, police said.

The victim was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

On Aug. 4, a 17-year-old was stabbed at Manor Field Park in a Huntington Station, less than three weeks after two teens were stabbed in the hamlet. The victim received a "superficial" wound in the torso and was treated at a hospital and released.

On July 15, two teenage boys — 14 and 17 — were stabbed in Peter A. Nelson Park in Huntington Station near the Huntington Manor Fire Department’s fair. Both victims were treated at hospitals. Police arrested two teens — a 19-year-old and a 15-year-old — in connection with the stabbing. 

Those stabbings prompted Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth to release a statement calling the violence at parks in the town "extremely concerning" and saying the town would "enhance patrols of our Public Safety officers in and around our parks and continue to work closely with local law enforcement."

Smyth, through a town spokesperson, did not respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.